what activities do you do all day with a 2 year old?

[Liz79]

My DD was 2 last month (DC2 arriving in April). What activities do you do/can you think off that she would like and which I will not get bored off. We do the following and I am getting fed up, she loves them! Feel like we do the same old things and go to the same places all the time.

Soft play (2 different ones we go to, prefer to go with friend so I can talk to her)
Farm park which has soft play (expensive)
Painting
Play doh
Glue and stick
Crayons
Park - swings, ducks etc(not far, tried to get her to walk there/go on sledge but lazy madam doesn't like walking)
Wander round town
Lunch/coffee with friend and her same age DD
Read books
Baking
Play with different toys (has lots)
Rhyme time at library but won't sit still to do it so abandoned until older.
Cbeebies
Swimming but too cold at present

Lots of the things which you do at home don't last very long and it takes longer to get ready or clear up after, eg painting, although last time I stood her on a chair at the sink and she washed up after herself. I want things which don't involve much effort and motivation, when lugging 28 wk bump around.

I also think she is growing out of her nap, but can't last all day without getting over tired. I don't want to admit that she doesn't need a nap anymore because that is my break time. I don't like to do house work because (I don't like doing it) I can't keep an eye on her whilst doing it in case she does something dangerous, although have tried to toddlerproof house as much as possible. Then I am so shattered in the evening I want to go to bed shortly after her so can't do it then

What a lazy arse mother I am

We do the same stuff as you although we also visit her friends (does that count as something different as they do the same stuff but at a different house lol), also we have a sing and dance (at the moment i can get her to do anything if I add it inot If you're happy and you know it )

So i'm gonna keep an eye on this for myself.

We do all of the above plus we go to toddler groups, as well as sure start activity centres - lots of fun things going on.

He also enjoys washing up - plastic pots in the sink with bubbly water and a cloth.

Going for walks - climbing on logs, collecting crap things, jumping in leaves

Visiting the library

Going for tea and cake at the cake shop

Bubbles

Going on a bike ride - he has a trike with a handle for me to push him

Walking around the local londis

Help with the cleaning

Toddler gym

Puzzles

Watching nursery rhymes on youtube

Leaving him to play on his own for short periods to allow him time to himself

Train rides/Bus rides

shouting
moaning
whingeing
making a mess
grizzling
being desperate for dh to come home
CBeebies

BadGardener - yep!

God, you aren't lazy, you do loads with her! I've got a 2.5 yr old ds and I'm 21 weeks pg so I'm in a similar situation. My ds goes to playgroup twice a week so I know he's had fun both those days, and then we do mums n toddlers, soft play, library, the park when it's warm enough and visiting family.

In the house we do colouring, painting, playdough, building towers, bubbles, balloons, we have toys which only come out now and then so he gets really absorbed in them (like a big box of planes) he watches cbeebies or dances around to music, we sing songs, read books and he has nice long baths with lots of toys.

We also do daft stuff like make him a den out of sofa cushions and throws, and we feed all his soft toys in a row etc, and in the summer we're out in the garden as much as possible. It's frustrating being stuck in, isn't it? I'm a bit scared to walk on the icy pavements at the moment.

He also spends a lot of time playing on his own, he has good concentration skills and he doesn't mind it at all (obviously I can tell when he's fed up of it) I don't feel guilty about him playing on his own though because I'd much rather that than structure every moment of his day and then hear "I'm bored" every 10 minutes.

er,give them their toys and leave them to it...then do your housework??

why is it necessary to be providing activity after activity?

Something my DD1 loved at 2 (and still does) and now my 19 month old does is:

Get some containers/plates/spoons. Toy ones are fine. Fill another cup with a mixture of dried pasta/peas/rice etc etc and let them get on with spooning it into all the different containers.

I only remembered this one myself yesterday (I used to use it whilst heavily pregnant )and it kept them both busy for over an hour - just involves a little bit of hoovering afterwards and maybe finding a lentil under the carpet in a couple of weeks time.

Good luck.

maybe try teaching her some games you can slowly edge away from as she gets engrossed. try to get her used to a bit of independent play.

show her how to make her toys talk to ither toys etc, or she can be a doctor/waitress/chef etc to toys.

it sounds like you already do plenty on parent led things. good for you!

You sound like you do lots. Feel your pain re pregnancy though - I am 38 weeks and feel like a giant and unmotivated slug at the mo !
DS is 23 months and the only different things we do are music classes once a week, singing, dancing and Tumble tots. We see friends with their chldren at least once a week. DS loves to watch us cooking and gets involved where he can.

Will watch this thread with interest for some new ideas.

also, i would get used to leaving her alone a little whilst you are in another room, pop in every few mins if you have to, as when your dc2 arrives, you won't be able to watch her every second of the day.

housework = not too important, give yourself a break

have you got one of these?

Because i drive almost every where, i used to go on an afternoon out on a bus, take the push chair and walk back via the librarly usually. That used up an entire afternoon!

Put some water in the sink with some bits and bobs, plastic cups etc. Ds would do this for ages standing on a chair. (usually while i made tea)

I would pop him in the bath in the day as well with toys, he loved this and it killed an hour or so.

some days i would just go for a walk round the block (still do and he is 6), not far, 20 mins max, take dolly in a pram or scooter, just nip to paper shop and let her choose a Cbeebies mag with colouring and stuff to do in it for when you get home.

play dates with pals...only if coffee and cake are on offer though
my boy also loved lego and stuff like that (for all of 20 seconds)
we built little houses with sheets over the dining room table, and he would "park" his cars in there and play for a while with that.
Some days, we didnt do anything, i would do my cleaning, he would potter around after me with a duster.

tbh you do allot with your lo, so you are not lazy at all.

It does get easier, they do satrt to make thier own amusement soon enough.
What about play school or a nursery for a day or an afternoon? They are NEVER bored there and they do so much more than you could ever offer with los.

After having DD1 I totally and utterly overstimulated her with activities and wish I had sometimes just left her to play on her own without me sticking my oar in. I pay the price now as she has no patience and won't wait for a single second (she is now 7).

I also have DD2 (2.4) and DD3 (11 months) and I often let them get on with just playing together (they are doing so now whilst I am on here). We go out around 3 times a week (this week we went to Museum, we have visited friends and family) - weather has stopped us getting out more. I have just sat and read with them for 15 minutes. I do it in spurts in between doing housework etc.

You do plenty, give yourself a break because come April, you are going to need it!

It also sounds to me that you already do a lot with your dd. I tend to do many of the things that you do, but definitely interspersed with some regular 'her' time where she gets on with her own thing for 10-15 minutes. I also get on my with housework sometimes and either let her 'help' or set her up with some toys (or CBeebies) where I know she is safe and just get on with it. I personally think that as long as you check regularly, there is no harm in this.

As the naps get shorter and/or disappear, it will probably be really important for you to have some breaks where you don't feel as though you have to constantly entertain your dd. I would find constant all day toddler entertaining hard, even if I wasn't pregnant!

shouting and despairing
counting hours until bedtime

i'm with Ilove. why do yougn kids need constant entertaining?

I tried doing most of these activities with ds as i felt it was the done thing, but he wasn't remotely interested and would bugger off before i had finished reading the first line.

he is at his happiest when playing by himself with his toys and it gives me a break.

he does like hindering helping me to do the laundry though.

Wow you do loads so don't be kicking yourself. When in the last stages of my pregnancy with DC3 my DD's were pretty much left to play on their own or watch TV!

I think it is important to let little ones amuse themselves occasionally as it could make things harder for yourself further down the line.

But if you want more activities how about games. My 2.5 year old loves Buckaroo and Pop up Pirate.

My DS is 9mo and plays brilliantly on his own.

DD is 3.5 and won't play on her own for more than 2 seconds.

This is because I failed miserably to leave DD on her own at any time to learn how to entertain herself. I have not had the time to constantly entertain DS (plus he struggles to get a look in TBH!).

If I were you I would try your hardest to encourage your DC to play on their own for at least some of the time. And when you have DC2 you won't be able to go out and about so much. It sounds like you do lots already.

But FWIW, when I was very heavily pregnant with DS, I was saved by story CDs. DD stopped napping when I was about 34w pregnant, so we used to snuggle up on my bed and listen to a story CD for an hour every day. It was heaven to get a rest!

But most importantly I would see if you can find a local playgroup. Our local one takes children from age 2, from 9.15 until 12, and costs £7 per day. Some kids go every morning, some just once a week. It is invaluable for both mother and child - especially with a baby on the way!

I work shifts so she goes to nursery then which she loves. She is good at making her own fun, eg this morning, in my dazed state I laid on the settee watching TV while she ran around the front room and into the hall way and to her toy area and back again. Mostly I can see what she is doing, so I feel she is safe. She runs out and back again. We did play-doh while sitting on the settee (its leather and she has a lap tray to do it on). She was perfectly happy and she brought me books and we read them and the play-doh but sometimes I think she isn't very stimulated and I should interact with her more. But it is so tedious and repetitive and boring and knackering and I feel so guilty for feeling like that and being desperate for DH to come in. Also aware tiem is running out and soon enough it won't just be her. Worrying about how I'm going to cope the next few weeks at work and then when I'm off but before the baby comes - she will be at nursery 2 mornings so I'll get a lie in but the rest of the week I will have to play with her and I will be huge and sore and achey and tired. And then there will be 2 and that fills me with dread. I plan to ignore the baby as much as possible when she is around, just feed it and change it etc as necessary and give DD lots of attention. Then when DD is asleep and at nursery I can give the baby lots of cuddles. I don't wnat to neglect the baby but I don't want to put DDs nose out of joint either. I feel quite sorry for myself and daunted by the whole prospect

I am also pg (due Feb) and have DCs at home all day.My DCs are 1, 2 and 3 and it can be exhausting trying to do ativity after actvity with them.

It sounds to me like you do loads already. I tend to put on CBeebies to get on with housework. The older 2 like "helping" in the kitchen with cooking. I just give them some utensils and let them stir etc and I get on with meals

We have friends round/ go to friends houses, playgroups and walks.

We never do painting at home!! And I cn't really manage all 3 at playcentres anymore but I don't think they miss out. The older 2 have learnt to play by themselves for some of the time which I tink is a valuable skill.

I think you are doing a great job!

Honestly, looking after a toddler and a newborn is loads easier than being pregnant and looking after a toddler.

Being pregnant just makes everything so much harder ime. Having a newborn baby to care for (even one like mine who wouldn't be put down ever for even one minute) is much more fun!

OP - you sound like you're doing great. I think you've just got the panic (that EVERYONE gets) at the thought of how on earth you will manage when you have 2 to look after. But you will manage fine, and it will all slot into place.

(BTW Becky7000 - 4 under 4??? You are either superwoman or mad !)

You sound like you're doing fab and I really wouldn't be worried about the range of activities.

BUT, if YOU are bored and looking for some variety (and honestly, who isn't, when looking after young kids all the time?!) here are some other suggestions:

Cooking. (making hot chocolate on the stove - seriously entertains DS for 45 minutes as we have to make it, then drink it v..e...r.....y slowly out of a bowl - it's actually pretty fun, but then my sense of fun is seriously different than what it was pre-DS!) Also make biscuits/crumbles/pies, etc that are nice to eat in this god-awful weather and DS can 'help' you.

Visiting Old People in Senior Centre. Maybe this one sounds bizarre, but a g/f of mine just got a bunch of us together to volunteer once a month at a senior living facility - kids play, get snack, the old people look with adoring eyes at the lovely children (it actually does give you a sense of perspective and makes you realize how completely edible your kids are...) and then me, g/f and other people go for lunch

Apart from that, I really do second all the other posters who said to give DC some alone time. I'm preg, too, due mid-April and I'm seriously letting up on the planned activity schedule to MN prepare for the new baby...

Good luck, whatever you decide to do!

Undercova- definately not superwoman so must be mad!